The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-09-03
Vicinity Items.

Spring Valley now has three coal shaft,
In operation; and fourth will be ready In
short time.
Issdore Eagles safe at Streator was bur.
glarlzed on Friday night to the amount OF
800. 1t was not locked.
Geo. L. Blanchard, whose failure and
disappearance from Peru were announced
last week, returned to that city on Saturday
morning.
FRANK Peters, aged 40, farmer living q
dropped dead at the dinner table at the
Merchants Hotel, Peru, on Saturday.
At the Joliet penitentiary on Saturday
the count of convicts was the lowest for
ten years, with one exception, 1t now being
about 1850. A year ago there were 200
more.
A Streator paper says: at Is now set
tied beyond doubt that II the people
whose homes were destroyed through the
criminal recklessness OF the V. G. company
are to receive any recOmpense from that
corporation they will have to fight for II.
Mr.. House, the attorney Of the company,
has given the company his opinion TO the
effect that they cannot be held for any dam.
age resulting from the explosion. This
statement may be considered official and
authoritative as 1t comes from a lawyer In
Chicago whose office adjoins that Of Mr..
House, and who assisted that gentleman In
looking up some Of the law points In the
case. This means that II the people who
have been blown out OF house and home
intend TO do anything they should lose no
time In getting together and making some
nlan for conrertAd action
The demolition OF the oldest building
perhaps In Peru 10 In progress. IL has OF
lats years done duty Is grain warehouse,
but Ito most csnspicu0us Characteristic was
the sign Land Ofi1ce" that adorned III
eastern vail 10 days gone BY, and many Of
distance from the river Ia low water, but
the construction Of the Henry dan raised
low water till 1t perpetualiy washed Ito
southern foundation walls. Il probably
paid for Itself good many times over 10
the years that Il stood a. ono Of the psinci.
pal business buildings on Water street, bu,
II has oulived its usefulness and must give
place 70 that which, when Il WAS built was
not recognized - much Of Q revolutiOnist.
tho railroad. The railroad 10 paramount
now, and before long Il. Will BE- on top Of
the site Of that old "land offlce."-La Sale
Republicans.
II the C., B. & Q. proposes to make .
home In Spring Valley and absorb most OF
the patronage Of the ,nercLapts Of that c.
s. N. w. town, freezing out the progenitors
OF that place, speaking hgurstively. Utica
could consistently build up hopes Of event
ually getting c., B & G. track past her
doors. The principal traffic Of the Spring
Valley merchants as Of all other neighbor
Ing towns 10 to and from Chicago. To haul
passengers and freight between the two
places mentioned by way Of Streator, when
the easy construction OF fifteen miles Of
track between La Sale and Ottawa would
save thirty, would not be very sound busi
ness policy on general principles, even II
nothing were 10 be gained In the way OF
additional patronage. Utica, however, can
offer large amount of business to any
system Of railroads that will take the
trouble to reach II. In due course of time
the proper presentation Of its claims may
do much for this town.-Ld Sale Republi
can.